When the ancient Polynesians invented surfing, they often used a paddle to help them navigate. Fast-forward a few millennia, and Stand-Up Paddleboarding, or SUP, finds itself trendy again. Part of its increasing popularity is that standing upright allows surfers to spot waves more easily and thus catch more of them, multiplying the fun factor. Paddling back to the wave becomes less of a strain as well. The ability to cruise along on flat inland water, surveying the sights, is another advantage. Finally, its a good core workout. If youre sold on the idea, schedule an intro SUP lesson, free with board and paddle rental, and you may find yourself riding the waves like a Polynesian king.More

Many of us remember coming home from our elementary schools with freshly glazed pinchpots, cups, or whatever else our young imaginations could conjure up. Saturday mornings at the Randall Museum can bring that memory back, or create a new one for the youngsters. Ceramics make great gifts — especially on Mothers' and Fathers' Day. Hop on board for the Randall's once-weekly class, and for $6 and two weeks to have your work fired and glazed, you'll have all the materials you need.More

The sinews of old San Francisco lie in the water: the posts standing in the Bay mud that supported the docks and piers where the shipping that made the city possible, and later allowed it to flourish, flowed.

Friday, June 29, 2012

Health / Marijuana
Pot Use Is "Double" in States Where Medical Marijuana Is Legal

Here's something you can file under "you don't say": The rate of marijuana use in states that allow medical marijuana is nearly double that of states that don't allow medical marijuana, according to a Columbia University study.

That said, marijuana "abuse" rates are not necessarily higher in states that allow medical marijuana, despite higher availability and possible higher "acceptance."

What makes places like California, Vermont, Hawaii, and Oregon -- some of the 10 states that allowed medical marijuana as of 2004 and included in the study -- doubly smokier than other states? There's more marijuana around, for one -- but in a Zen-like twist, there's also more acceptance. However, according to some researchers, medical laws don't have a causal effect on marijuana use. And what's more, there's no direct link between medical and general use -- which could be the same everywhere in the country.

marijuana use, abuse and dependence," was published in the January 2012 issue of Drug and Alcohol Dependency. Somehow, it's evaded both ou news alerts and, it appears, the general medical marijuana news machine, in part because it's less splashy than the studies examining marijuana use among teens, crime rates and dispensaries, and marijuana use and automobile accidents.

Researchers found that people in the states with medical marijuana laws on the books as of 2004 -- when the data, from the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, were created -- self-report marijuana use at a rate 1.92 times that of people in non-medical states.

There was much more information to use in some states than in others: 50 respondents in Vermont, to nearly 4,000 in California, the study notes.

The study also examines self-reported marijuana "abuse," something that's contentious among marijuana users and advocates. Those kinds of folks won't likely agree that there's a such thing as marijuana addiction, while prohibition-minded public health advocates might.

A few reasons for this doubling were suggested. One, there's more marijuana around and available. Another, the medical efficacy of the drug increases acceptance of its use and self-reporting thereof. But most importantly is the fact that when medical marijuana laws are on the books, there's a decrease in the idea that using marijuana is risky behavior. Moreover, there's also increased social acceptance, meaning people may be more willing to admit to smoking marijuana.

Researchers wrote that there's no "causal" link between medical laws and increased marijuana use or abuse. The community acceptance phenomenon may be the most interesting, however: if everyone else is doing it, and doing it on the books, on the level -- then why not admit to a study that you're doing it, too?

About The Author

Bio:
Chris Roberts has spent most of his adult life working in San Francisco news media, which is to say he's still a teenager in Middle American years. He has covered marijuana, drug policy, and politics for SF Weekly since 2009.

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Sub Pop recording artists 'clipping.' brought their brand of noise-driven experimental hip hop to the closing night of 2016's San Francisco Electronic Music Fest this past Sunday. The packed Brava Theater hosted an initially seated crowd that ended the night jumping and dancing against the front of the stage. The trio performed a set focused on their recently released Sci-Fi Horror concept album, 'Splendor & Misery', then delved into their dancier and more aggressive back catalogue, and recent single 'Wriggle'.
Opening performances included local experimental electronic duo 'Tujurikkuja' and computer music artist 'Madalyn Merkey.'"